Foot-operated control device for automobiles and the like.



3; AJSTAPLBS.

FOOT OPERATED common names FOR AUTOMOBILES AND THE LIKE.

APPLIOAIIQH FILED FEB. Q, 191

Patented Sept. 15, 1914 3 SHEETS-SHEET 1.

J. A. STAPLES. FOOT OPERATED CONTROL DEVICE FOR AUTOMOBILES AND THE LIKE.

APPLIGATION TILED IE13.9,1914.

1 1 1 0,970. Patented Sept. 15, 1914 3SHEETSSHEET 2.

J A. STAPLES. FOOT OPERATED CONTROL nsvmn FOB. AUTOMOBlLES AND THE LIKE;

APPLICATION FILED FEB. 9, 1914.

Patented Sept. 15, 1914.

3 SHEETSSHEET 3.

section. other modification of my invention.

i "Win ru n, w an ildiaii it Bali JOHN ATKINSUN STA'ELES,

EGOYE-0PERATED CUNTEOL DEVICE Specification. of

Application filed February To all whom it may concern it known that 1 JOHN A. S'rariuns, a citizen of the United States, residing at Newhurgl'i, in the county of Orange and State of ltew York, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Foot-Sperated Control Devices forAutomobiles and the like; and I do hereby declare the following to be a full, clear, and exact description oi the invention, such as will enable others skilled in the art to which it appertains to make and use the same.

My invention consists in the novel features hereinafter described, reference being had to the accompanying drawings in which l have shown the preferred embodiment of my invention and several modifications thereof, selected by me for purposes oi illustration, and the said invention is fully disclosed. in the following description and claims.

in the said drawings, Figure l is a perspective view partly in section of an embodimeat of my invention in its preferred form adapted for use as an accelerator for controlling the feed of explosive material to the motor of an automobile. Fig. 2 a top plan view of th same. 3 a vertical sectional view of the device on the line 33 of Fig. 2, the foot engaging: parts above the hase plate or foot board being shown in elevation. 4- to 9 inclusive are diagrammatic views illustrating various positions of the foot in operating the device. Fig. 10 is a top plan view illustrating a modified "form, oi my invention. lit is an elevation oi the same, parts being indicated in Fig. 12 is a top plan view of an-- 13 is a vertical section on line 1S--l3 of Fig. 12. Figs. 14, and 16 are detail views representing another slight modification oi my invention. Fig. l? is a detail view of another slight modification.

in the use of vehicles driven by prime motors" it very desirable that the control of the inotor to variations of speed may he eilcc l hv the foot oi the driver in order that. is hand. may he left "free to openatc the steer wheel and the change speed lever or levers. is therefore usual to vide in automobiles a foot operated c connected with a suitable valve for controlling the supply of explosive mixture to the engine or connected to the appropriate devices for controlling the speed of the motor. These devices are usually termed aceelere FOR AUTGMGBILES AND THE LIKE.

Letters Patent.

tors, and the foot operated portion thereof is ordinarily moved by the foot {against the action of a spring which is employed to re-- turn the device to its normal position. in devices oi this kind, in common use, it has been necessary to maintain the "foot in more or less uncomfortable position and to keep the muscles of the foot and leg in a state of constant tension against the action 55 of the returning spring of the accelerator, the resistance of which increases the further the accelerator is depressed, both oi which facts involve a continuous strain on the foot and leg which in the course of continuous drivingfor long" periods becomes tiresome and painful. The foot also must usually be maintained in a more or less unstable position so that the jarring oil? the vein is apt to impart accidental movements to the foot which materially interfere with the uniformity and accuracy of the motor cont-vol.

l have given very careful consideration to this subject, and by a longseries perirnents, l have found that a satis. tory device of this character must obviate all the ditliculties heretofore mentioned and pro-- vide for nicety and accuracy of adjustment, perfect steadiness of the control device under all road conditions so as to retain any desired adjustment without accidental change. while permitting the foot to he maintained in a comfortable position and without strain or stress upon the muscles of the foot or leg. I have also found that in addition to these important. considerations, a satisfactory sccelerator must further permit of instant operation whether the foot is in contact with the device or, as is otteu the case. is loca on a foot brake or some part the iioori g, u and the device must also tor commert al reasons, present a wide variety of positions of the foot in operating the same to accommodate the habits or convenience of dificu ent drivers.

My invention tl erei ore consist simple and eli'ective device i lccattd on the foot hoard oi an auto and so constructed and erran cazahle of operation by the seven different i i *s, capable oil in. ous oration by he foot i ler any and. all conditions, and W. h uuderordinary conditions of operation permits the foot to supported in a condition of ease anc and without on the muscles c :ioot or leg. This ease and e the foot may be placed and eifectively enin driving, as the foot is relieved from the l necessity of continually opposing the retracting spring with which the device is pro vided and the variety of positions in which i gagethe device, affords the operator an opportunity to frequently change the position of his foot which is a great relief, especially in driving long distances. To this end, therefore, my invention comprises essentially a stationary member and a movable member between which the foot is inserted with a wedging action so as to separate said members more or less. The movable member may be pivoted upon either a horizontal or a vertical pivot and the opposing faces of said members are preferably inclined to each other either vertically or horizontally or both so that the wedging action-referred to may be accomplished in various ways, and the stationary member is also preferably adjustable with respect to the movable member in order that the device may be quickly and readily adjusted to accommodate different widths of shoe worn by the driver, so as to secure uniformity of results in all cases.

in Figs. 1. 2, and 3, I have shown the preferred embodiment of my invention, which consists of the following instrumentalities.

1 represents a base plate which is secured on a suitable support, a floor board 2 of an automobile, in such position as to be within comfortable reach of the foot when the operator seated. The plate 1 is preferably provided with a slot 3 at one side of the same. and at the other side it is provided in this instance with a plurality of adjusting apertures 4c.

.3 represents the stationary foot engaging member. the inner face 5 of which has a i forward part of its lower edge, indicated at 5", extending in a direction longitudinally of g the machine and substantially straight. the rear portion of said lower edge being inclined or curved laterally and outwardly therefrom, as indicated at 5. The whole extent of the inner face is inclined outwardly from the bottom to the top thereof. as clearly I shown in Fig. 3. The stationary member 5 g is adjustably connected to the plate 1 or the tloor board inany desired manner so as to permit of lateral adjustment of the entire member with respect to the movable member 1 hereinafter described. and in this instance, 1 have shown the stationary member 5 provided with dowel pins 5. see Fig. 3. to en gage pairs of the adjusting apertures 4, as indicated in Figs. 2 and 3, to secure the desired space between the stationary member and the movable member to accommodate the shoe of the driver.

6 represents the movable member which is j constructed substantially like the stationary member, that tot say, its inner face 6 is 1 provided with the straight portion at its lower edge, as indicated at (3", and the out \vardly curved rear portion at its lower edge, as indicated at (3, the whole face 6 being inclined upwardly and outwardly from said lower edge. The movable member in this instance is detachably secured to the upper end of an operating lever T which mounted on a horizontal pivot is suitably supported below the base board 2, in this instance, in strap or bracket 9. shown in Fig. 3, the said lever 7 being connected in any suitable manner with the valve or other control mechanism to be operated for the control of the motor. In'this instance. the lever T is provided with an operating arm 10 connected by a link 11 with an arm 12 connected with a suitable butterfly or other valve 13, for .-upplying explosive mixture to the mo tor. as indicated in 1.

Obviously the specific form of connections between the movable member and the valve or other device 'to' be controlled may be vai ied in accordance with the circumstances of the particular automobile or other apparatus with which the control device is used. The movable member 0 is preferably provided with guiding portions 6. to engage the upper end of the lever 7 and is adapted to secured thereto by a cotter pin 6". as shown in Figs. 2 and 3, so as to permit it to be quickly removed if it should be necessary to lift. the floor board. The lever 7 extends upwardly through the slot 3 in the plate 1 and the floor board 2 is provided with a.

, corresponding slot 2* and with apertures 2" registering with the adjustment holes 4 of the base plate 1.

I prefer to provide a suitable retracting spring 14 for holding the movable member in its innermost position and for returning it and the apparatus connected therewith to normal position after any movement thereof.

i and in the embi' diment of the invention herein shown in Figs. 1. 2. and 3, I have shown 1 the spring it connected to lever 7 at one end and at the other end to the strap or bracket 9. but obviously the spring may be connected 1 in any desired way. and either an expansion or contraction spring may be employed for this purpose.

Figs. 4 to 9 illustrate diagrammatically various ways in which this control device can be used, and show the different positions 5 of the foot with respect to the stationary and movable members. Thus it will be seen that if the foot is thrown forward. as indicated in Fig. the sole portion thereof will en- I age rearwardly flared portions 5 and 6 of the stationary and movable members, and by a wedging action, will move the movable I member and the lever t and the parts conor vertically with respect to the inclined surfaces of the stationary and movable members so that he is apprised at all times of the fact that the movable member has been adjusted, and by this means he is enabled to secure a more accurate and nice adjustment of the controlled mechanism and with more certainty than would be otherwise possible.

In Figs. 10 and 11 I have shown a slight modification of my improved control device, in which the movable member 16,

which is of substantially the same form, 15 provided with the upwardly inclined inner face 16 having the front part of its lower edge disposed longitudinally of the vehicle, 1

as at 16*, and being tapered or flared out-- wardly at its rear portion, as indicated at 16, the movable member being supported on a vertical pivot 17, provided with a guiding E arm 18 adapted to be connected in any suitable manner to the valve or other device to be controlled. In this instance the stationary member indicated at 15 is formed by an upwardly inclined flange on a base plate 15 on which the movable member is mounted. A retracting spring, as indicated at 19, re-

stores the movable member to normal position. The operation of this device will be the same as those heretofore described. the movable member swinging upon the axis or the pivot or rock shaft 17 to a greater or less extent, according to the adjustment re quired. I I

In Figs. Hand 13 I have shown another modification of my device, in which the stationary member 25 consists merely of a vertically disposed inclined pin or stud, inclinin upwardly and outwardly from abase plate 20 (or from the foot board), the base plate being provided with a slot 21 through which extends a movable member which in this instance consists bf a vertically disposed arm 26. the upper end of which inclines upwardly and outwardly away from the stationary member 25. The movable member 26 is in this instance mounted upon a horizontally pivoted connection 27, and is pro vided with an arm '28 adapted to be connected, as by means of a link 29,-' with the valve or other device to be actuated. a suitable retracting spring 30 being 0 eratively connected with the movable mem r to restore it to operative position.

In Figs. 14, 15, and 1G, I have illustrated I another slight modification of my invention in which the movable member is capable of adjustment with respect to the stationary member for the purpose oi accommodating different widths of feet so as to dispense ber 36 is on one end of a swinging arm 37,

the other end of which'is pivotally mounted and connected with means adapted to connect it to the part to be controlled, the connection between the movable member 36 and the control mechanism being itself adjustable so that, the arin 37 can be Qt atdifferent positions with respect to the stationary member to accommodate the width of the operator's foot between them. In the present instance I have shown the arm 37 provided with a downwardly extending lug adapted to be adjustably connected to a socket revolubly mounted in the floor board. In this instance the arm 37 is provided with a lug 38 having a locking tooth 38 disposed vertically thereon. A socket 39 is rotatably mounted in a suitable bearing 39 in the floor board 32 and said socket is provided with a series of vertically disposed notches 39 on its interior face, see Fig. 1G. The socket is provided with arm -10 adapted to be c0nnected by a link 41 to the valve or other control device to be operated, and said arm 40 is also provided with a retracting spring 40 I normally holding the arm against a stop 40.

It will be obvious that the movable member l and movable members 35 and 36 are constructed substantially as shown in Figs. 1, 2, and 3, so as to-be capable of a wedgm action by the foot either vertically or zontally.

I claim broadly a control device comprising members having opposed faces which are separated by the wedging action of the foot inserted between them in any manner, I as I believe this to be entirely-new with me.

I prefer that one of the members should be stationary, but it is within the scope of my invention to have both members movable and to employ the movement of either one of said members or both' to operate the part that when the sole is thus inserted between tl. c members 5 and 6 to operate the device to eater or less extent the foot rests firmly oi he floor and base alate l and is supported throughout its length. It will also be seen that the tension oi the retracting spring ls t the left hand side of the foot will be tr smitted across the sole to the stationary n .,n1ber so that no stress or' tension whatof thetniuscles of the foot or leg isreed to be exerted to resist the tension of .1'- pr n and the foot and leg muscles rest in a re ed condition while maintaining the desired adjustment of the device. It will 15 also bcseen that an instantaneous operation .0? the device can be obtained by a sudden orward thrust of the foot from the position shown in full lines to the position shown in dotted lines in F 1g. 4.

m Fig. 5 shows diagrammatically another use of the device in which the foot is inserted between the fixed and movable 1nembers and the movable member is crowded to the left by twisting the foot, as by throwing e 1 el either to the left or right, as indi- Hit by dotted lines, while maintaining the e bottom of the foot upon the floor. In positions also, it will be noticed that s very fine and delicate adjustment of movable member may be effected, the ion of the retracting spring is also transecross the sole to the stationary 1nen1- s end no stress or strain of the muscles of oot or leg'is required to maintain the usted position.

" .6 illustrates another manner of using ice, in which the foot is inserted bethe tired and movable members and djustment is obtained by bodily t of theforward portion of the foot so away from the stationary member. I nd of using the device may be rean emergency or where a very .eretion of the motor is desired, h obviously in this case the foot "i /cult. 1121.745 to withstand the tension of the 1g sprins.

1' illustrates another method of using in .vhich the foot is turned on one maintained at an angular posione side of the sole resting rinst the stationary memher, the opposite elevated edge of the sole resting upon the upper part of the inclined :tsce of the movable member which ri or-table position for the foot y be resorted. to for the purpose ry relief in making a long position the movable member 39 sl ghtly rocking the foot and the elevated edge of the same nore 0;. less against the upwardly inclined t me S of the movable member and exerting e wed action between the fixed and movable member, as clearly indicated in Fig. 'i, and in this case also the resistance of the retracting spring is transferred through the solo the stationary member.

Fig. 8 represents another manner of using the device. In this instance the sole elevated and the heel rests on the floor board in reel oi the stationary and movablemembers and the sole is depressed between the stationary and movable members as indicated in Fig. 8 with an outward motion. This manner of actuating the movable members produces a wedging action, as indicated in Fig. 8, between theu nvardly inclined faces of the stationary and movable members, and the further the sole is depressed, the further the movable member will be moved away from the fixed member. In this use of the device, it will be noted that a partial support for the sole portion. of the foot is anorded by the frictionalengagement of the sole and the upwardly inclined faces of the stationary and movable members, and it will also be seen that the tension of the retracting spring is transferred across the sole to the stationary member in. all the adjusted positions oi the moval leniember. This method or operating the device also permits a quick depression of the sole portion of the foot and a quick lateral move ment of the movable member for use in. emergencies or where a sudden acceleration is required, as at street crossings, tte.

l 9 represents another method o'l using the device in which the foot is inserted be tween the fixed and movable members so as to bring the instep portion oi the foot be tween the same, and the foot may be twisted. in either direction, may be most convenient to eil'ect the lateral movement of the movable member, the entire foot being in the meanwhile supported in a relaxed po sition by the flooring and base plate.

It will thus be seen that my improved dcvice m be operated readily in a wide vuiv ling: to the whim or convemence o.. the driver and under any conditions which may confront him he may secontrol mechanism or a very nicely grrndm ated control as may be required, while the .ioot is at all times supported practically throughout its entire length in an or po sition and relieved from stress or tension of the muscles and the great variety of po sitions which the foot may assume and still exercise etlective con through this device permits the to clmnge his position b '1 long drive and secure the greatr .lount oi comfort witl out sacrificing accuracy or uniformity of control.

In most of the d construction affords no ird'cation to the operutor that he has therefore dependent to be controlled. Thus, in Fig. 17 l have shown a construction in which both of the opposed members 15 and as are capable of movement under the wedging action of the foot, the member 46 being provided with means adapted to connect it to the part to be controlled, as indicated by the arm at? and being provided with a retracting spring 48, while the member 45 is also movable to a slight extent and provided with a retracting spring i9, which is preferably stronger than the spring 48. In this case the actuation of the controlled device is effected by the member 46 and the slight yielding or the member 425 tendsto facilitate the insertion of the footwith a'wedging action between the two members, either vertically or horizontally and to prevent a too sudden operation of the controlled mechanism.

lVhile I prefer to construct the device as indicated in Figs. 1, 2, and 3, it will. be understood that my invention is capable of considerable variations in the specific details as shown, for example, in the modifica= tions illustrated in Figs. 10 to 17, and i do not desire to be limited to the exact details of construction herein shown and described, as considerable variations may be made therein without departing from the spirit of my invention.

What I claim and desire to secure by Let tershatent isv l. A. foot operated control. device for automobiles comprising a stationary and a movable member, provided with opposed 1 faces, between which the foot is inserted, means adapted to connect said movable member to the part to be controlled, and retracting means for the movable member, whereby the movable member may be actnated by inserting the foot between the said members to a greater or less extent, and

whereby the resistance of the retracting means is transferred across the foot to the stationary member.

52. A toot operated control device for antomobiles comprising a stationary and a movable member provided with opposed faces, one of said faces being inclined with respect to the other, means adapted to connect said movable member to the. part to be controlled, and retracting means for said movable member, whereby the foot may be inserted to a greateror less extent between the opposed faces of said members with a wedging action to hold the movable member-in diiierent adjusted positions, and the resistance of the retracting means will be transmitted across the foot to the stationary member.

3. A foot operated control device for automobiles, comprising a stationary and a ,movable member provided with opposed vertically disposed faces, one of said faces being vertically inclined with. respect to the other, means adapted to connect the movable member to the part to be controlled, and retracting means for said movable member, whereby the foot may be moved vertically between the opposed faces of said members with a wedging action to hold the movable the pressure of the retracting means will be transmitted across the foot to the stationary member.

i. A toot operated control device for it'lltomobiles, comprising a stationary and a movable member, provided with opposed vertically disposed faces, one of said. faces being horizontally inclined with respect to the other, means adapted to connect the movable member to the part to be controlled, and retracting means for said movable mem- Zontally between said members with a wedgig ing action to hold the movable member in dii'l'erent adjusted positions, and thepressure of the retracting means will be transmitted across the foot to the stationary member.

5. A toot operated control device for an,- tomobiles comprising a stationar and movable member provided with opposed vertically disposed faces, one of said being vertically and horizontally inclined with respect to the other, means adapted to connect said movable member to the part said movable member, whereby the foot may be inserted betwee the opposed faces of said members and moved vertically horizontally with a wedging action to hold the movable member in diderent adjusted positions, and the pressure of the retracting means will be transmitted across the foot to the stationary member.

6. A foot operated control device for an tomobiles, comprising a stationary member and a movable member, having opposed vertically disposed foot engaging faces, one 01 said faces being inclined vertically with respect to the other and one of said face being inclined horizontally with respect to the other/means adapted to connect said movable member to the part to be controlled, and retracting means for said movable member.

YfiAfoot operated control device for antomobiles, comprising a sta ionary member and a movable member provided with opposed vertically disposed foot engaging faces, each of said faces being inclined to the other, both vertically and horizontally whereby the foot may be inserted between said members with a wedgin g action and moved either vertically or horizontally, to adjust said movable member, means adapted to connect said movable member with the part to be controlled, and retracting means for said movable member.

8. A toot operated cntrol device for an.-

member in different adjusted positions, and

her, whereby the foot may be moved hori be controlled, and retracting means for tomobiles comprising a stationary member and a movable member, provided with opposed vertically disposed foot engaging faces, adapted to receive the foot of the operator between them, means adapted to connect said movable member to the part to be controlled, retracting means for said movable member, and means for adjusting the stationary member laterally to different positions with respect to the movable memher to accommodate variations in the width of the operators foot.

9. A foot operated control device for automobiles comprising a stationary member, a pivotally mounted movable member, said members being provided with opposed vertically disposed foot engaging faces adapted automobiles comprising a stationary member, and an opposed movable member,-said members having their opposed faces inclined upwardly in opposite directions away from each other, said faces having their rearward portionsdiverging away from each other, a pivotal support for said movable member, retracting means for said movable member, and means adapted to connect the movable member with the part to be con trolled, whereby the foot may be inserted between said members with a n'edging action, and moved vertically, horizontally, or

I torsionally, and the pressure of said retractmg means will be transmitted across the foot to the said stationary member.

ll. A foot voperated control device for automobiles comprising a base plate, a sta tionary member secured to said base plate, means for adjusting the stationary member laterally, an opposed movable member, said members having their opposed faces inclined to each other, a pivotallymounted supporting arm extending through a slot in said base plate-and detachably connected to the movable member, means adapted to connect the movable member with the part to be controlled, and a retracting spring for said movable member.

12A foot operated control device for automobiles, comprising a. supporting base provided with a slot at one side of the same and with a plurality of adjusting apertures at the other side, a stationary member provided with pins for engaging said adjusting apertures, a movable arm extending through said slot, a movable member can ricd by said arm having its inner face opposcd'to the inner face of the stationary member, said members having their opposed faces inclined to each other both vertically and horizontally, a retracting device for said movable arm, and means adapted to connect said movable arm with the part to operated.

A foot operated control device automobiles comprising two separable mam bcrs provided with vertically disposed opposing faces adapted to receive the foot of the operator between them with a. \vedging action to separate said members, one of said members being movable with respect to its supporting means, means adapted to conncct said movable member to the part to be controlled, and retracting means for said member;

14. A foot operated control device for automobiles comprising two members provided with opposed vertically disposed foot engaging faces adapted to receive the foot of the operator between them, one of said members being movable with respect to its supporting means, and the other member, means adapted to connect said movable member tothe part to be controlled, re-

tracting means for restoring the part to be controlled to its normal position, and means for adjusting one of said opposed members with respect to the other to accommodate variations in the Width of the operators foot.

15. A foot operated control device for automobiles comprising a stationary member and a movable member provided with opposed vertically disposed root engaging members adapted to receive the foot of the operator between them, means for connect inn a movable member to the part to be controlled, retracting means for said movable member, and means for varying the relative normal positions of said stationary and movable members to accommodate the variations in the width of the operator's :toot. In testimony whereof I aflix my sigma turc, in the presence of two Witnesses.

JOHN A'IKINSON S'lAPLES. Witnesses E. Bmmnrr, M. H. Dormn'rv. 

